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Notes

To view digital images of these Maine, State Archive Collections, click here. Not available on microfilm.

Digital images of originals housed at the Maine State Archives, Augusta, Maine.

"Justice in Maine during the two centuries that preceded Statehood in 1820 was administered by courts held between 1639 and 1677 when part of the present State existed as an independent province under the Gorges Patent granted by Charles I; from 1677 to 1780 while it was governed as a province of Massachusetts; and from 1780 to 1820 when it was administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the District of Maine.... The Province of Maine constituted the County of York until 1760 when Cumberland County and Lincoln County were incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court.... The Circuit Court of Common Pleas, which existed in Massachusetts for the trial of jury cases, was continued under the Act of Separation and Constitution of Maine until 1822. Then the Legislature created a Court of Common Pleas, consisting of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, as a court of inferior jurisdiction, to hold jury terms throughout the State. Questions of law and appeals from the Court of Common Pleas were subject to review by the Supreme Judicial Court. The Court of Common Pleas was abolished by the Legislature in 1839 which established a District Court."--Maine State Archives website.

The Court of Common Pleas had jurisdiction over civil matters, 1699-1839. The Court of General Sessions of the Peace had jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal cases, from 1699-1831, then became the Court of County Commissioners in 1831.

To order a microfilm, you need to know the microfilm number. Again, to obtain the microfilm number, see the Film Notes section. Before ordering microfilms or microfiche, please check the Notes field. Any restrictions on the use of the item will be mentioned there.